Mayor urges ministers to ‘up the pace’ on rapid charging infrastructure as he outlines plans for 80 new rapid electric vehicle charging points across London

• From tomorrow, Transport for London inviting suppliers to deliver more public rapid and ultra-rapid charge points across the TfL road network
• New charging points at 51 sites in London with 83 charging bays in total will be located on strategic roads across the TfL road network
• Sadiq made this announcement on a visit to Volta Trucks, who recently launched a trial of their first fully electric heavy goods vehicle 
• Today the Mayor urges Ministers to match his ambition nationally 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced that more than 80 new rapid charging electric points are to be delivered across the capital, as he urges Ministers to follow the capital’s lead in speeding up the rollout of EV infrastructure nationally.  

London has almost a third of all the charge points in the UK, and the highest volume and share of rapid charge points for any European city. Tomorrow, TfL will release to market more land – giving the opportunity for new suppliers to deliver rapid and ultra-rapid charge points across the TfL road network. 

The Mayor published his EV Infrastructure Strategy in December 2021, which forecast that London will need between 40,000 to 60,000 public charge points by 2030. Up to 4,000 of these will need to be rapid.  To date, there are 12,800 charge points in London, of which over 900 are rapid or ultra-rapid. 

TfL will be inviting bids from suppliers for two delivery contracts which include 51 sites in total across North and South London and will deliver 83 charging bays, adding to the initial lot of sites which went out to market in November 2022. The sites are located on strategic roads to support high mileage, essential road users such as commercial vehicles and businesses.  In May 2023, a delivery contract was awarded to Zest, with 39 rapid charging bays expected to be delivered by the end of 2024. 

This will mean that TfL have released 122 rapid charging bays to the market in total, exceeding the initial target of 100. Subject to the supplier and agreed contracts, the remaining sites could all be delivered by the end of 2025.

The Mayor made this announcement on a visit to Volta Trucks, to mark the launch of the UK customer operations of their all-electric heavy goods vehicle (HGV). 

The Volta Zero, developed by Volta Trucks, is the first purpose-built all-electric 16-tonne vehicle designed for urban logistics. With an operating range of 150 to 200kms, and a Direct Vision Standard (DVS) five-star rating, the Volta Zero is designed to make it safer for people walking and cycling in London. 

Sadiq is London’s most pro-business Mayor ever and is doing all he can to support businesses in their shift to zero emission vehicles, including installing rapid charge points on TfL’s road network and setting ambitious policy and legislation in London which is encouraging more businesses to be pioneers in new, zero-emission technology. The Mayor and City Hall officers speak directly with businesses on an ongoing basis, to understand key challenges for them to shift to EVs and understand how we can provide them with more support wherever possible, and where TfL can help to unlock barriers. 

The Mayor is committed to achieving net zero by 2030 in London, and this includes ensuring all Greater London Authority (GLA) and TfL fleets and estates are decarbonised. 

The TfL and GLA fleets are making significant progress to be cleaner and greener – with over 90 per cent of the London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police fleets compliant with the Ultra Low Emission Standards, despite their vehicles often being highly specialist and difficult to upgrade. 100 per cent of the TfL fleet is ULEZ compliant, including London’s buses. 

We have also seen great progress in the electrification of GLA fleets, such as London Fire Brigade’s trial of a zero emission capable pumping appliance, the roll out of zero emission capable vehicles used in the Metropolitan Police and the delivery of over 950 zero emission buses on TfL’s network. The GLA support fleets are also all on track to be zero emission capable by 2025.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “Zero-emission freight is an area which has been considered a significant barrier in the shift to decarbonising road transport. That is why I’m delighted to support Volta Trucks, who have recently launched the London trial of their first fully electric heavy goods vehicle (HGV). 

“The new Volta Zero vehicle is the future of London’s freight – world-leading in terms of green technology, while also meeting the highest safety standard which can be awarded to an HGV. 

“As more electric vehicles come onto our roads, it’s vital that London has the infrastructure to support them. TfL will be releasing another two batches of sites to the market to deliver public rapid and ultra-rapid charge points across its road network. These sites will play a huge part in supporting high mileage, essential road users such as commercial vehicles and businesses and will help us work towards building a greener and more prosperous London for everyone.”

“But while London is leading the way, we need to see more action nationally to pick up the pace delivering electric vehicle infrastructure. When it comes to making the transition to cleaner vehicles and delivering the benefits of cleaner air, this must be considered an urgent national mission. 

Volta Trucks is leading the way in shifting to zero-emission freight, an area which to date has been considered a significant barrier in the shift to decarbonising road transport. Innovative technology such as Volta Zero is essential to tackle the challenges of climate change and air pollution, and help ensure London can be net zero carbon by 2030. Volta Trucks have hailed the Mayor’s ambitious policies, including the Low Emission Zone for HGVs, London’s world-leading DVS to improve HGV safety and his ambition on encouraging the uptake of electric vehicles, in supporting them to shift to zero emission technology.  

Christina Calderato, TfL’s Director of Strategy and Policy said: “Introducing a further 83 rapid electric vehicle charging points across more than 50 sites on TfL’s road network is an important milestone in the Mayor’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions in London by 2030. Increased availability of rapid charging points across the capital will encourage and support individuals and businesses in making the transition to zero emission vehicles, reducing air pollution for the benefit of all Londoners and helping to tackle climate change.”

Caroline Watson, Director for Transportation at C40, said: "Fossil fuel trucks are one of the biggest contributors of harmful air pollution in cities. Electrifying truck fleets is a huge opportunity to cut pollution, build healthier communities and create good, green jobs. Hats off to London for unlocking needed charging infrastructure and to companies like Volta for bringing new electric truck models to market."

Chief Executive Officer of Volta Trucks, Essa Al-Saleh, said; “Electric charging infrastructure is a key enabler of transport electrification, that needs to accelerate to deliver society’s ambitions. On our mission towards decarbonising urban logistics, Volta Trucks is supportive of the Mayor’s initiatives to improve charging networks. We look forward to continued political support through financial incentives, regulatory certainty and measures to accelerate the transition to electrification of commercial vehicles for businesses and fleet operators."